Diego Forlan has declared Napoli are credible title rivals, spoken of his friendship with Edinson Cavani, and how he is settling in at Inter.

The Uruguayan sat down to speak with Il Corriero dello Sport ahead of his team's meeting with the Azzurri. First up was a look at how he had settled in at his new club.

"I have been helped by [Esteban] Cambiasso and [Diego] Milito, and new companions who I know from having against many times.

"I played with Esteban at Independiente in 1998. Him, me and Gabriel Milito. Thanks to him I knew Diego, who was at Racing."

Forlan reflected on being cup-tied for Inter's Champions League group stage matches after appearing for Atletico Madrid in the qualification round.

"I'm very sorry for my forced exclusion from the Champions League. They told me when I was at home for dinner with Cambiasso. We thought it would be nice to win it together. What a mockery."

The striker believes Saturday night's opponents are to be taken seriously as a title contender.

"Juventus, Napoli, Milan and Inter are the strongest, without that being the order they'll finish in. After that, the League is more balanced than La Liga where Barcelona and Real Madrid always win.

"Napoli [are a title rival] because they are a formidable team that has bought valuable players not only this year but in the past. Theirs is a young, strong group who is playing well and growing."

Forlan is also close friends with Edinson Cavani, whose fitness is the subject of uncertainty going into the weekend meeting.

"Cavani is important because he scores so much, with his clubs and his national team. Napoli, however, is a team in the truest sense of the word, with a depth of alternatives.

"With the national team we [became friends] during the World Cup, and then we won the Copa America. Luis Suarez was the first striker, I was slightly behind and from the right was Edinson as a playmaker."

The former Manchester United man then spoke of his preferences on the pitch, and revealed an optimistic outlook on which strike-partner he can work best with.

"I have always felt like a striker, an attacker, although I can move around. With time and experience I have learned to play second striker and playmaker.

"With [Giampaolo] Pazzini, Milito or [Mauro] Zarate, it makes no difference who I play with as they are three champions. My features allow me to play with all three."